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Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A Notre Dame student died Wednesday after the tower from which he was filming football practice fell over.

Declan Sullivan, a 20-year-old junior from Long Grove, Ill., was transported from the LaBar practice complex to a South Bend hospital, where he died.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Declan's family and friends," coach Brian Kelly said in a release. "Declan was a diligent student worker in our video department and had a tremendous personality and great sense of humor. He brightened the days for all that had the privilege to work with him, and the Notre Dame football family will dearly miss him."

Authorities were investigating the incident. The hydraulic scissor lift, which can be lowered or raised depending on needs, stretched across a nearby street.

Winds in the area were gusting to 51 mph at the time, according to the National Weather Service, and the team practiced indoors Tuesday because of the blustery conditions.

Notre Dame was making grief counselors available for students, and university president Rev. John Jenkins will preside over a special Mass in Sullivan's memory on Thursday.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss," Jenkins said. "Our hearts go out to the student's family and friends and our prayers and profound sympathies are with them during this incredibly difficult time.

The loss of someone so young is a terrible shock and a great sadness. Our entire community shares in the family's grief."

The Fighting Irish, who host Tulsa this Saturday, canceled post-practice interviews after the accident.

"In the midst of a season where you are disappointed with the outcomes ... you can lose sight of what's most important. Sad day at practice," senior linebacker Brian Smith posted on his Twitter page. "I will never forget today."

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

Okay, (a) I thought when we were up there for a swim meet that I saw a large number of permanent camera towers. Why use a scissor lift?

(b) due to today's high winds, streets were closed around the Sears Tower as there were a couple of loose windows reported. Why would they think a scissor lift less than 100 miles away and in the same weather pattern would be safe?

This screams "lawsuit". And for once, for a good reason.

Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
And life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms,
Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

Stupid and senseless. What a tragic waste.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...nce-stephenson
"But, first, let us now praise famous moments, because something happened Tuesday night in Indianapolis that you can watch a lifetime’s worth of professional basketball and never see again. There was a brief, and very decisive, and altogether unprecedented, outburst of genuine officiating, and it was directed at the best player in the world, and that, my dear young person, simply is not done."

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

He did it to cover the team for some school project... really senseless. Its horrifically windy in that part of the state when bad weather hits it wasn't that important for him to go up there like that.

I know ND will honor him on Saturday's game but its so tragic he should be at the game.

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

I'm confused.... If the team is practicing indoors why is he on a lift outdoors?

indoors Tuesday,
outdoors Wednesday when this happened

The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
I'm (maybe) back after being repetedly banned, merely for supporting a different NFL team than do certain forum moderators.

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

Agreed, to a point. I don't know who or what would have compelled him to stay up in what was clearly a dangerous situation. Not for minimum wage or college credits...

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...nce-stephenson
"But, first, let us now praise famous moments, because something happened Tuesday night in Indianapolis that you can watch a lifetime’s worth of professional basketball and never see again. There was a brief, and very decisive, and altogether unprecedented, outburst of genuine officiating, and it was directed at the best player in the world, and that, my dear young person, simply is not done."

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

I get what you guys are saying, but we are talking about a impressionable college kid. I went to a small liberal arts college, and I saw friends get abused by the athletic department with crazy internships. Granted I also had a friend where it paid off big time, but most kids know someone is right behind them to take their spot.

So yeah, it would be great if he said “This is crazy. I need to get down because this is unsafe” but chances are he did not do this (and instead choose to tweet his frustration) because he wanted to keep his job.

Bottom line is these kinds of lifts, or any lifts for that matter, should not even be available to use in that kind of weather.

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...nce-stephenson
"But, first, let us now praise famous moments, because something happened Tuesday night in Indianapolis that you can watch a lifetime’s worth of professional basketball and never see again. There was a brief, and very decisive, and altogether unprecedented, outburst of genuine officiating, and it was directed at the best player in the world, and that, my dear young person, simply is not done."

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

This could probably go in its own thread, but what a dick move by Tulsa and its band.

I get you just won a huge game, but really, you have to upstage the schools alma matte just three days after the school loses a member of its student body. You couldn't wait an extra 2 minutes to celebrate?

Re: Notre Dame tower collapses; 20-year-old confirmed dead

Agreed. Glad it didn't incite problems.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...nce-stephenson
"But, first, let us now praise famous moments, because something happened Tuesday night in Indianapolis that you can watch a lifetime’s worth of professional basketball and never see again. There was a brief, and very decisive, and altogether unprecedented, outburst of genuine officiating, and it was directed at the best player in the world, and that, my dear young person, simply is not done."